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NS today -- 4/7/13 (random)

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sponge

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Apr 10, 2013, 12:41:54 PM4/10/13
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Went on the small day between swell peaks. It was small, but there were some surprisingly meaty ones at times. Saw a bunch of random happenings including: gromfest at Pipeline; localism due to a near drop-in at Backdoor; heavy waves at OTW, sponger heaven at Insanities, even an RC copter over PL/BD.

Kalani David is no longer a grom
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_01.jpg

Kahea Hart, slotted
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_04.jpg

Bigger than it looks
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_05.jpg

Waterspots galore, but Jacob and I both agreed this was a very pretty wave
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_06.jpg

Wesley, pulling in
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_07.jpg

Me, shooting at OTW (thanks Colin McGillivray)
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_Neal_OTW_ColinMcGillivrayPhoto.jpg

Not a new bodyboard accessory. This 10-blade RC copter was hovering rock-steady over the lineup despite medium trades. Had a DSLR on it on some anti-shake gimbal system. $22k platform. Camera was the cheapest part of the setup. Might see this at future surf contests.
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_rc.jpg

neo

Tom Tweed

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Apr 13, 2013, 10:31:45 AM4/13/13
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On Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:41:54 -0700 (PDT), sponge <neos...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Not a new bodyboard accessory. This 10-blade RC copter was hovering rock-steady over the lineup despite medium trades.
>http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2013/130407_random/130407_rc.jpg

Interesting! Not enough detail in this photo for me, though, Neal--is
it battery powered, or gas? Also, I count 8 rotors, not 10.

Is there a web link with more detail on this rig?

TT

Tom Tweed

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Apr 13, 2013, 10:46:20 AM4/13/13
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On Sat, 13 Apr 2013 07:31:45 -0700, Tom Tweed <t...@plowsharemedia.com>
wrote:
>
>Is there a web link with more detail on this rig?

Answered my own question with a quick google search:
http://extremeaerials.com/buy-a-octocopter/

Battery powered octocopter, 2kg payload, $11,800 AUD (w/o camera
gear).

TT

sponge

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Apr 13, 2013, 9:24:54 PM4/13/13
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On Saturday, April 13, 2013 4:46:20 AM UTC-10, Tom Tweed wrote:
> On Sat, 13 Apr 2013 07:31:45 -0700, Tom Tweed <tt@> wrote:
> >Is there a web link with more detail on this rig?
>
> Answered my own question with a quick google search:
> http://extremeaerials.com/buy-a-octocopter/
> Battery powered octocopter, 2kg payload, $11,800 AUD (w/o camera gear).

Man, I can't count!!! It was eight. I did some searching too. I remember the brand had the word "fly" in it. Using the logo from the image, I confirmed that this is a FreeFly Cinestar HL platform:
http://www.freeflysystems.com/products/cinestarHL.php

Not sure about the cost, but he did say $22k. I'm thinking they were swapping batteries at the time, and they took off the camera. Far cry from those $20 RC copters.

sponge

Tom Tweed

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Apr 14, 2013, 8:59:08 AM4/14/13
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On Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:24:54 -0700 (PDT), sponge <neos...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Ya, that looks like the exact model--much heavier duty and more
expensive, with a 12lb / 5.4kg payload. Their most advanced gimbal
camera mount alone goes for ~$15K, and you still need to buy the
copter for $8K along with any other accessories AND the movie camera!
https://www.quadrocopter.com/M212VI-MR--Pre-Order-_p_908.html

They do have a smaller quad model to carry a GoPro for $679:
https://www.quadrocopter.com/DJI-Phantom-All-In-One-Quad_p_787.html

With the battery power limitations, you only have 10-12 minutes to get
the shot you want with any of these rigs, it seems, so extra batteries
and recharging/changing them out during the session would be a
necessity. Then there are the inevitable crashes that will require
spare parts. Not cheap!

I've messed a little bit with the cheap RC copters, and the $20 ones
are all IR-conrolled and suitable for indoor flight only. To get an
actual radio-controlled, counter-rotating dual rotor, gyro-equipped
one that can actually hover is at least $80, and they are micro-sized,
can't carry any payload, and won't stand up to any wind gusts outside
at all.

TT



sponge

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Apr 14, 2013, 4:40:32 PM4/14/13
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Tom,
Yet another technical field that you are competent in. Hats off. Couple more things of note when I was talking to the guys.

Two guys were controlling the setup. The "pilot" took care of the drone and the "cameraman" the camera. Pilot controls did not have POV video perspective, but they said it could easily be added. Camera did not have zoom capability as configured, but they said they could easily add another servo motor to remotely control zoom.

When they flew it I swear it was hovering rock-solid for 15+ minutes. I remember watching it, wanting to take its picture, and as I was swimming over, it went back and landed. Think he had it about 15 feet above the water.

Interesting thing is he asked if it was loud or bothersome to the surfers. I could hear it at Backdoor from Off the Wall, but it was a not-unpleasant buzzing/whirling sound.

Heard mention of a copter being used at Bells earlier this year. Not sure if this is the same one, but found this online: http://youtu.be/Bi4vkfBUHf8

Expecting to see one buzzing BA on the next south at W/S.

neo

Kev

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Apr 30, 2013, 8:00:48 PM4/30/13
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sponge <neos...@gmail.com> writes:
>
> When they flew it I swear it was hovering rock-solid

Groovy stuff.

> Heard mention of a copter being used at Bells earlier this year.

Even that $22k price barely rents you a day of full size copter would
it. Maybe someone will try one of those spider cable stadium camera
things for no down-draft. You'd need a break into a bay or reef pass so
there's somewhere to put poles on the outside.




--
Sigfile applications of mathematics to surfing series:
Due to the hairy ball theorem there's always somewhere on earth with no
wind. But whether there's any waves there is indeterminate.

Tom Tweed

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May 5, 2013, 9:59:40 AM5/5/13
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On Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:40:32 -0700 (PDT), sponge <neos...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Heard mention of a copter being used at Bells earlier this year. Not sure if this is the same one, but found this online: http://youtu.be/Bi4vkfBUHf8
>
>Expecting to see one buzzing BA on the next south at W/S.

You were right--I wasn't flying it, but a RC heli was reported buzzing
the lineup on the last south at W/S.

TT

sponge

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May 5, 2013, 10:34:48 AM5/5/13
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On Tuesday, April 30, 2013 2:00:48 PM UTC-10, Kev wrote: <snip>
> Even that $22k price barely rents you a day of full size copter would
> it. Maybe someone will try one of those spider cable stadium camera
> things for no down-draft. You'd need a break into a bay or reef pass so
> there's somewhere to put poles on the outside.

Talked story with Sean Davey couple of days ago. He used to rent full-sized helicopters for like $1500/hr.

Think they used a single cable to track surfers at the O'Neill Coldwater Classic at Steamer Lane. Turned out pretty good if memory serves.
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